Dallas Sierra Club Calendar

Hike one of the most scenic Wilderness trails in Arkansas in the Caney Creek Wilderness of west central Arkansas. Saturday we’ll enjoy the views from the ridgetop Buckeye Mountain Trail. This is a great trail to work on your map skills.  Sunday we’ll hike out along the creek bottoms of the Caney Creek Trail. Leaves and wildflowers should be just starting to appear. This trip is rated moderate and would be suitable for beginners in good shape. Both days cover about 4 1/2 miles. Saturday includes an 800 foot uphill section. We'll camp Friday night near our cars, Saturday night near a nice little waterfall. Trip rated: Moderate. Leader: Bill Greer Send Email 972-247-0446

Walk and talk while picking up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office, northeast corner of Garland Road and Buckner Boulevard.  Look for the crowd drinking free juice and coffee.  Gloves, trash bags, etc. will be provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy.  Brunch afterwards.  Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Carol Nash Send Email 214-824-0244

Help upgrade some of the more beautiful trails in Dallas.  It's a great morning workout.  No tools are required, although bringing gloves and drinking water would be smart.  Just show up, ready to lend a hand. Work from 9:00 to noon. then walk around the preserve and admire the wildflowers.  There are ten miles of trails.  Check www.audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html for directions to 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas and more information.  Come on out and stay green! Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Ginger Bradley Send Email 469-223-7902

There's no Outings Committee meeting this month.  The Outings Committee will meet next on June 18.   Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

We're now accepting registrations for the Memorial Day weekend sleeper bus trip to this new destination ten miles east of Alamogordo.  Our trails are in Lincoln National Forest at elevations from 7,800 to 9,500 feet, forested with fir, pine and aspen. We've reserved a group shelter for breakfast on arrival.  One trip option is day hikes from this appealing base camp with vault toilets and a fire pit amphitheater.  All other trips will continue after breakfast to trailheads along the Rim Trail.  Thirty-one miles in all, the Rim Trail generally follows the divide between the Rio Grande and Pecos watersheds, with occasional views to White Sands and the Tularosa Valley far below.  The Rim Trail was the first National Recreational Trail in New Mexico.  Area history is tied to logging and the “Cloud-Climbing Railroad” that hauled out timber and brought in vacationers.  Railroad grade and trestle remnants are prominent features on the day hikes.  Departure is Friday evening, with return before dawn Tuesday.  Click here for complete trip details and registration application forms.  Email the Bus Trip Coordinator for inquiries.  Bus trip leader: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

A local landowner with land that would be drowned by the proposed Marvin Nichols reservoir has offered to guide us on an overnight canoe/kayak trip down this little traveled river.  The Sulphur runs through East Texas southeast of Paris.  So it's in our back yard and it's time we got to know it!  More details will follow after a scouting trip in early May. Trip rated: Moderate. Leader: Bill Greer Send Email 972-247-0446

Walk and talk while picking up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office, northeast corner of Garland Road and Buckner Boulevard.  Look for the crowd drinking free juice and coffee.  Gloves, trash bags, etc. will be provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy.  Brunch afterwards.  Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Carol Nash Send Email 214-824-0244

Meet upstairs at 6:30 at the Dallas REI store, north side of LBJ Freeway, between Midway and Welch Roads.  This month's agenda will include a review of the Sacramento Mountains trip and final drill for the upcoming Pecos Wilderness trip.  Outings leaders, prospective leaders, and people interested in outings are welcome. Ask Mark to be placed on the email list for an agenda. Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

Help upgrade some of the more beautiful trails in Dallas.  It's a great morning workout.  No tools are required, although bringing gloves and drinking water would be smart.  Just show up, ready to lend a hand. Work from 9:00 to noon. then walk around the preserve and admire the wildflowers.  There are ten miles of trails.  Check www.audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html for directions to 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas and more information.  Come on out and stay green! Trip rated: Easy. Leader: Ginger Bradley Send Email 469-223-7902

We're now accepting applications for the fabulous Fourth-of-July high country backpacking trip to northern New Mexico! This is a backpacker's paradise - a high basin of forests and meadows on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Snow cornices may be visible in July on the tallest peaks and ridges. The awesome landscape supports elk, bighorn sheep, marmots and more. Alpine vegetation and breathtaking vistas are rewards for reaching the Skyline Trail as it curls around the high altitudes at or above tree line . Five trip options ranging from moderately strenuous to strenuous include five trail days and four nights. Our sleeper bus departs Dallas on Thursday night at 8:00 and returns at daybreak Wednesday. Complete details and application forms are in this PDF file . Bus trip leader: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

Meet upstairs at the REI Dallas store on the north side of LBJ between Midway and Welch at 6:30 PM. The agenda will include review of the Pecos trip, early decisions about a winter trip and planning for fall weekend trips.  Outings leaders, prospective leaders, and people interested in outings are welcome. Ask Mark to be placed on the email list for an agenda.  Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

There's no Outings Committee meeting tonight.  The Outings Committee will meet next on September 17.   Organizer: Mark Stein Send Email 214-526-3733

Escape the Texas heat this Labor Day weekend.  Join this trip to the cool Colorado mountains of the Weminuche Wilderness, west of Creede. This is the largest designated Wilderness in Colorado, with a variety of terrain in mountains, green valleys, high lakes and streams. Trips will range from moderately strenuous backpacking with day hikes to strenuous hikes crossing the Continental Divide multiple times. The Weminuche offers all the miles you want to hike. It's a hidden jewel and one of our most popular trips. Details and sign-up information will be posted here in early summer.  Bus trip leader: Kathryn Hurn Send Email 214-321-4030

This fall campout has been so much fun it's turned into an annual event. Join us to enjoy the scenic beauty and fall colors of Beavers Bend State Park in southeast Oklahoma. Our group complex offers your choice of rustic cabins or tent camping on the grassy lawn or by the river. Amenities include a dining hall with kitchen, stone fireplace so we can fix s'mores rain or shine and yes, even a bath house with flush toilets and hot showers. Activity options will include various group hikes and outdoor related mini-clinics 

or you can be on your own to enjoy the many options offered by the park including hikes, nature center and museum, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking (rentals available), even a train ride through the forest for those wanting to see it the easy way! Saturday night offers a catered BBQ dinner (optional) and guest speaker. Complete trip information will be posted here in mid-August. Send email to trip coordinator to be notified when reservations open. Gather your family and friends - this outings is great for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stages! Trip rated: Kid Friendly. Coordinator: Liz Wheelan Send Email 214-368-2306

Save these dates.  November is an ideal month to explore this unique piece of Texas.   The high Chisos Mountains are a sky island hosting evergreens and Bigtooth Maples.  The Tierra Quemado, 5,000 feet lower, has canyons and washes that conceal precious water sources.  The Rio Grande glides around the south edge of the park , threading the bases of the Mexico's Sierra del Carmen.  If you've never been to this national park, you owe it to yourself to come.  If you've been before, come again.  Our chartered sleeper bus will leave Dallas Thursday evening and return before dawn on Tuesday (Veteran's Day).  Some backpacking experience is required.  Trip details and registration forms will be posted here in the late summer.  Trip rated: Moderate. Bus trip leader: Arthur Kuehne Send Email 214-608-3210